Klitschko: Why I Turned Down £22m Joshua Rematch

Former world boxing heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko has revealed the real reason he turned down a rematch with British-Nigerian world champion Anthony Joshua.Joshua scored an 11th round knockout victory against Klitschko in a thrilling heavyweight contest almost 12 months ago.

Joshua landed a famous uppercut in the fight which consequently ended Klitschko’s career.However, in the immediate aftermath of the bout, fighting fans from around the world were desperate to see the two greats go at it again.But Klitschko turned down a $30million (£22m) rematch and decided to instead hang up his gloves.The Ukrainian has how come out to reveal why he rejected Joshua’s offer for a rematch.

“The way I boxed was the way I acted my life,” Klitschko told the BBC.“I have to make sure everything sits.“And I knew my stocks went up after I lost for some weird reason, but it was the most complicated and difficult decision of my life ever.“For 27 years I’ve been doing it and then when you know you gotta pull the plug that’s it, it’s done.

Wladimir Klitschko Gives His Take on Joshua vs. Wilder

Former undisputed heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko is very familiar with both Deontay Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs) and Anthony Joshua (21-0, 20 KOs).During the core run of his career, Klitschko had used both boxers as his sparring partners.Wilder holds the WBC heavyweight crown, while Joshua has the IBF, WBA, WBO, IBO world titles.

Klitschko was asked for his opinion on a potential fight between the two undefeated world champions.

“They are completely different fighters. I know both of them. They were both at my training camp. We spent a lot of time with each other. They are completely different fighters,” Klitschko told BBC.”It’s very difficult to calculate where Deontay Wilder’s punches are coming from. But the strength, the core, the foundation that Anthony Joshua has, in addition to being an Olympic champion, and he has the great amateur experience that Wilder does not have. I’ll be happy, super happy if I’m able to see him (Anthony Joshua) succeed. I told him ‘the more you shine, the more I shine.”